under packing

[hyzenthlay]

Most people are concerned that they're packing too much, but is there such thing as under packing?
Based on every packing list I have read and the advice everyone is so keen to give me, I'm not taking nearly enough. I put most of it in my bag and carried it around. It feels heavy enough! Besides what I will wear, I'm taking:

-extra pair of khakis
-extra t-shirt
-polo shirt
-long sleeved t-shirt
-light hooded sweatshirt
-2 extra pairs underwear
-2 extra pairs socks
-sheet
-sarong
-microfiber hair towel
-flip flops

-toiletry bag
-soap
-lotion
-shampoo
-conditioner
-sunblock
-toothbrush
-toothpaste
-deodorant
-floss
-prescription pills (w/ copy of rx)
-condoms
-tampons
-hand wipes
-lip balm
-hair elastic

-digital camera (in a soft sock)
-charger
-card reader
-adapter

-ripped out sections of guidebooks
-10 ziplock bags
-money belt
-passport, ID, debit card, 2 credit cards
-railpass, plane ticket
-journal/notebook, pen
-photocopies of documents, rx, cards

Everyone keeps telling me what I NEED to bring and advising just-one-more-little-thing that will come in handy. All the one-more-little-things add up to a lot of bulk and weight. Personally, I think this is plenty. I'm even considering cutting down on the toiletries and buying a smaller battery charger.

If it comes down to a life or death situation in which I need a safety pin to survive, well then I guess I'll just die.

[me]

as you have a prescription, you might want to type the name & dosage of pills you take & email it to yourself. depending where you go, the actual script may not be needed. [of course, it also depends what you take]

[LHR02]

Actually, your list looks darn good to me. Personally I'd probably add another pair of undies and socks...they are light weight and don't take much room, but if you are willing to wash out most every day you can get by.

The only thing missing, for me, is a compass. I have posted endlessly about it, not all agree, but I would never travel without one. I like the 'wristwatch' types, found at any sporting goods store, and I have used them constantly.

For ID....are you taking some photo ID other than your passport? I advise it as many spots want one and I hesitate to leave my passport. Student ID or DL works just fine.

Sounds like you have things well in hand. Have a great trip!

ging

[Jules80]

hmmm well i don't know when you're going (i assume summer time). but i'd replace the long sleeved t-shirt with a t-shirt. i also notice you have no raincoat or umbrella on your list. i personally brought enough clothing for a week with no washing and i felt like i was continually washing stuff. it takes time and if you're gonna hand wash everything it takes a while to dry in the room. especially cotton stuff... so you need to make sure you're in one place long enough when you run out of clean clothes.

if you're staying in hostels you may also want to consider bringing ear plugs. i was sooooo glad i had mine. mp3 or cd player is also usefull for long train journeys. unlike ging, i brought a compass and found it totally useless and it sat in my bag for 6 weeks. then again, i do have a pretty good sense of direction.

Jules

[Jules80]

if you have a good sense of direction and a good map (and the ability to read it) a compass becomes unnecessary... at least for me.

[LHR02]

I too have a pretty good sense of direction and can surely read a map. Where I found my compass the most useful was in the big cities either in a 'warren' of tiny streets where I really couldn't see anything around me or over and mostly coming up out of the metros. Particularly ones, like in London for example, where you walk for 'miles' in between stations underground and then chose your entrance. I almost always would pop up out of there all turned about. Particularly if I was in a place I'd not been it was great for immediately getting my bearings and not heading off in what I'd later find was the wrong way.

But, it's one of those 'you decide' things. I wouldn't be without, Jules never used it. She obviously has a better sence of direction than me! ;D

[jayseeca]

Question:
Going to Europe in August/Sept. I know in some places it gets cold at night... is this the case in Europe? Should I be bringing a sweatshirt?

[mango]

The general rule when travelling is to take half as many clothes and twice as much money ;D